Imperial County offers aid to displaced Spreckels employees
Adrik Vargas
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – County leaders have declared an economic emergency following the closure of the Spreckels Sugar Plant, one of the area’s largest employers, to help workers and families recover.
Eligible employees are gaining access to funding, training, and support services through the county’s workforce department.
“They are helping make available any funding, any assistance that would get us to a better place,” said Priscilla Lopez, Workforce Development Director.
The department is working with Spreckels Human Resources to identify employees who qualify for aid.
Lopez added, “We are also making available our dislocated worker training funds. If anybody wants to expand their career choices or come into our office to see what those choices are, we can help them with that.”
The Small Business Development Center is another resource for those looking to take a different direction.
“We provide trainings and one on one counseling. We have training specially around the area of startup. We have in-person trainings and we have virtual trainings, English and in Spanish,” said Viridiana Rosales-Trujillo, Center Manager.
“If there’s something that they have a talent for, and I know everyone here on Earth has a talent for something, to just explore that talent and connect that talent with maybe making it into a viable business,” Rosales-Trujillo added.
While immediate help is available, county officials note that recovery will take time.